Exporting from CapCut Desktop & Mobile: Aspect Ratios, Quality Settings, and Platform-Ready Files

Export decisions start with destination

Your export settings should be chosen backwards from where the video will be watched. Each platform has a “native” frame shape, typical playback behavior (full-screen vertical vs player with controls), and different tolerance for compression. The goal is to export a file that matches the platform’s expectations so it looks sharp, avoids unwanted cropping, and keeps captions clear of UI overlays.

Rule of thumb

• Match the platform’s native aspect ratio to avoid auto-cropping and soft scaling.
• Match your timeline frame rate to avoid jitter or duplicated frames.
• Export the highest quality you can reasonably store/upload, then let the platform compress from a clean master.

Aspect ratios: choosing and verifying the frame

9:16 for TikTok/Reels/Shorts

Vertical video is usually watched full-screen with UI elements layered on top (buttons, captions, progress bar). Your export should be 9:16 and your important content should stay inside a “safe” center area.

16:9 for YouTube standard

Horizontal video is displayed in a player with controls below/overlaid depending on device. You have more horizontal space for composition, but you still need to keep text away from edges to avoid being cut off on some displays.

1:1 for square

Square exports are useful when you want one file that looks acceptable in multiple feeds. The tradeoff is less space for tall subjects and captions, so you must reframe carefully.

Resolution: 1080p vs 4K (and when it matters)

1080p (Full HD) is the default for most social exports because it’s sharp, uploads quickly, and platforms handle it well. 4K can look cleaner after platform compression, especially for detailed scenes (foliage, textures, screen recordings), but it increases file size and upload time.

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• Choose 1080p when: you’re posting frequently, working from 1080p sources, or your audience is mostly mobile.
• Choose 4K when: your footage is 4K, you plan to crop/reframe, you want extra clarity after compression, or the video will live on YouTube long-term.
• Avoid upscaling (exporting 4K from 1080p sources) unless you have a specific reason; it increases file size without adding real detail.

Frame rate: match the timeline and the footage

Exporting at a different frame rate than your edit can introduce motion artifacts: stutter, ghosting, or uneven movement. The safest approach is to export at the same frame rate you edited in.

• 24 fps: cinematic feel; can look less smooth for fast motion.
• 30 fps: common for talking head, general content.
• 60 fps: best for fast action, sports, gameplay; larger files.

Practical rule

If your main camera footage is 30 fps, export 30 fps. If you mixed 30 and 60, decide which is dominant and keep export consistent with your timeline settings.

Bitrate guidance: keeping detail without huge files

Bitrate controls how much data is used to represent each second of video. Too low = blocky gradients, mushy detail, and visible compression. Too high = large files with diminishing returns (platforms will recompress anyway).

Suggested bitrate ranges (H.264)

If CapCut offers a simple Quality slider instead of a numeric bitrate, treat it like this: for final uploads, choose High or Recommended/Better; for a master archive, choose the highest setting you can store comfortably.

HDR exports: when to use them (and when not to)

HDR can preserve brighter highlights and richer color, but only if your footage is HDR and your destination supports HDR playback reliably. If you export HDR and the platform/device doesn’t handle it well, colors can look washed out or overly contrasty.

• Use HDR export when: your source clips are HDR (e.g., phone HDR video), you kept an HDR workflow, and your primary destination is YouTube (which supports HDR) or you specifically want HDR-capable devices to benefit.
• Stick to SDR when: you’re posting primarily to short-form feeds where HDR handling is inconsistent, you mixed SDR and HDR without careful management, or you want maximum predictability across devices.

Quick check before exporting HDR

Preview your video on at least one HDR-capable screen and one standard screen (or toggle display modes if available). If skin tones or whites look strange in SDR, export SDR instead.

Safe margins for UI overlays (captions and key visuals)

Short-form platforms place interactive UI on top of your video. Even if your captions are readable in the editor, they can be covered by buttons, usernames, or the progress bar after upload. You need a consistent “safe zone” habit.

Practical safe-zone guidelines (9:16)

• Keep faces and key action in the center (avoid the far left/right edges).
• Keep captions above the bottom UI: avoid placing text in the bottom ~15–20% of the frame.
• Avoid the right side UI column: keep important text away from the right ~15–20% of the frame (varies by app).

Step-by-step: verify safe margins inside CapCut

1. Turn on guides if available (grid/center guides). Use them to keep subjects centered and text away from edges.
2. Scrub through the entire timeline and watch every caption line: check that no line drops too low or drifts into the right-side UI area.
3. Test with a “UI overlay check” export: export a short 5–10 second segment and upload privately/unlisted (or save as draft) to see real UI coverage.
4. Adjust caption position globally (if your caption tool supports it) so you don’t fix each line manually.

For 16:9 YouTube, safe margins are simpler: keep text away from the extreme edges and avoid placing important text too low where player controls may overlap on some devices.

Audio loudness consistency: export-ready targets

Even with clean mixing, exports can vary in perceived loudness across videos. Your goal is consistent dialogue level and no clipping.

Practical targets (simple and reliable)

• Peak level: keep the loudest moments below -1 dBFS to avoid clipping after encoding.
• Dialogue consistency: aim for a steady perceived level; if your platform normalizes loudness, overly loud mixes can be turned down and feel weaker.

Step-by-step: quick loudness check before export

1. Play the loudest section (usually music hits, laughter, emphasis).
2. Watch the meter: if it hits 0 dB or shows clipping, reduce the master/output or the loud track.
3. Compare to a previous approved upload: level-match by ear at the same phone volume setting using headphones.
4. Listen on phone speakers: ensure voice is still clear and not buried by music.

Platform-ready export presets you can recreate in CapCut

Use these as repeatable presets. The exact menu labels vary slightly between Desktop and Mobile, but the decision points are the same: aspect ratio, resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate/quality, and audio settings.

Preset A: TikTok / Reels / Shorts (standard)

• Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Resolution: 1080×1920
• Frame rate: match timeline (commonly 30 fps)
• Codec: H.264 (MP4)
• Bitrate/Quality: High (or ~10–16 Mbps if manual)
• HDR: Off (SDR) unless you have a controlled HDR workflow
• Audio: AAC, 48 kHz if available

Preset B: TikTok / Reels / Shorts (high motion)

• Aspect ratio: 9:16
• Resolution: 1080×1920
• Frame rate: 60 fps (only if your footage/timeline is 60)
• Codec: H.264 (MP4)
• Bitrate/Quality: High (or ~12–24 Mbps)
• Audio: AAC, 48 kHz

Preset C: YouTube standard 1080p

• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1920×1080
• Frame rate: match timeline (24/30/60)
• Codec: H.264 (MP4)
• Bitrate/Quality: High (or ~12–20 Mbps for 30 fps; higher for 60 fps)
• HDR: Only if your project is HDR and you intend HDR delivery
• Audio: AAC, 48 kHz

Preset D: YouTube 4K (clean master upload)

• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 3840×2160
• Frame rate: match timeline
• Codec: H.264 (MP4) or HEVC/H.265 if available and compatible with your workflow
• Bitrate/Quality: High (or ~35–60 Mbps for 24–30 fps)
• HDR: Optional; use only with HDR source and intent
• Audio: AAC, 48 kHz

Preset E: Square (1:1) cross-platform

• Aspect ratio: 1:1
• Resolution: 1080×1080
• Frame rate: match timeline
• Codec: H.264 (MP4)
• Bitrate/Quality: High (or ~8–16 Mbps)
• Audio: AAC, 48 kHz

Step-by-step: exporting on CapCut Desktop (repeatable workflow)

1. Open Export and choose Local export (file to your device).
2. Set format/codec: choose MP4 (H.264) for maximum compatibility unless you specifically need HEVC.
3. Set aspect ratio and resolution: pick 9:16/1080×1920 for short-form, 16:9/1920×1080 for standard YouTube, etc.
4. Set frame rate: match your timeline (do not “upgrade” fps at export).
5. Set quality/bitrate: choose High or set a bitrate from the guidance table.
6. HDR toggle: enable only when you intentionally deliver HDR.
7. Audio settings: keep AAC and a standard sample rate (48 kHz if available).
8. Export a short test (optional but recommended): 10–20 seconds with motion + captions to verify sharpness and UI safety.
9. Export final and play the file locally before uploading.

Step-by-step: exporting on CapCut Mobile (repeatable workflow)

1. Tap Export/Share and choose Export (save to device) if you want to upload manually, or choose a platform share if you trust the preset.
2. Set resolution: select 1080p for most posts; choose 4K only when your footage is 4K and you accept larger files.
3. Set frame rate: match the project (30 or 60). Avoid changing it at export.
4. Quality/bitrate: choose the highest practical quality setting.
5. HDR: enable only if your project is HDR and you want HDR delivery.
6. Save/export, then review the saved file in your gallery (full-screen) to spot any visible artifacts.

Naming conventions and storage choices (so you can find the right file later)

Consistent naming prevents uploading the wrong version (wrong aspect ratio, wrong captions, wrong mix). Use a structure that encodes platform, ratio, resolution, and version.

Recommended filename pattern

YYYY-MM-DD_ProjectName_Platform_AR_Res_FPS_v##.mp4

Examples:

• 2026-01-21_ProductDemo_TikTok_9x16_1080x1920_30_v03.mp4
• 2026-01-21_ProductDemo_YouTube_16x9_3840x2160_30_v01.mp4
• 2026-01-21_ProductDemo_Square_1x1_1080x1080_30_v02.mp4

Storage choices

• Keep two exports when possible: a platform upload (optimized size) and a master (highest quality you can store).
• Organize by project: one folder per project with subfolders like Exports/9x16, Exports/16x9, Masters.
• Cloud + local: store masters in a reliable cloud drive and keep the latest platform-ready files locally for quick posting.

Final QC checklist (before you upload)

• Watch-through (full screen): no accidental black frames, jumps, or missing sections.
• Caption timing: captions appear on time, don’t lag behind speech, and don’t flash too quickly to read.
• Safe margins: captions and key text stay clear of bottom UI and right-side buttons (especially 9:16).
• Color consistency: skin tone and exposure look consistent across cuts; no sudden shifts between clips.
• Audio balance: voice is clearly dominant; music doesn’t mask words; no clipping on loud moments.
• Compression artifacts: check gradients (sky/walls) for banding, check motion for blockiness, and check fine detail (hair/textures) for smearing.
• Correct version: confirm filename, aspect ratio, resolution, and version number match the intended platform.